Bureaucratic shuffle just cost Onondaga County a dedicated public servant (Your letters)

So now it has devolved into a she said/she said. I'm referring, of course, to the recent departure of our county Commissioner of Health. As I understand the issue, it concerns moving maternal and infant health programs from the Department of Health to the Department of Social Services. According to our County Executive, Dr. Cynthia Morrow was not on board with the proposed reorganization.

First of all, from the perspective of an outsider, doesn't it make sense to have the Division of Maternal and Infant Health located under the Department of Health? And shouldn't one think twice about what is in essence a bureaucratic shuffle when the Health Commissioner has concerns? What if the $7 million in grants goes away because of this move?

And as I understand the concept, people in each field have different areas of expertise. It would seem to make sense to listen to someone, who is admired by her peers, who has the aforementioned expertise in the field of infant health, especially since the infant mortality rate in Onondaga County has been headed in the right direction (down) during her tenure here. And doesn't it ring bells and light up red lights when the medical director of the Golisano Children's Hospital calls this reorganization "breathtakingly stupid" and the president of the Onondaga County Medical Society calls it "nonsensical"?

Further, since this reorganization will not take place for several months, what was the propriety of telling Morrow "Get out!" the day after she announced her resignation? I believe that Joanie Mahoney has well and truly screwed up. She essentially has said: "My mind is made up. Don't confuse me with the facts!"

We have lost a dedicated public servant who has reversed the high rate of infant mortality in this county -- all because she didn't get with the program as promulgated by the county executive.